Fact Check: Six in ten working-age people in Iran are unemployed.

Fact Check: "Six in ten working-age people in Iran are unemployed."

What We Know

The claim that "six in ten working-age people in Iran are unemployed" is not supported by current data. According to the Labor Force statistics from the Iran Data Portal at Syracuse University, the unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 and older in Iran was reported at 7.8% by the end of winter 2025. This figure reflects a slight increase from previous seasons but is significantly lower than the claim suggests.

Moreover, the Statistical Center of Iran indicates that the unemployment rate for the entire population aged 15 and older has fluctuated around this figure, with reports showing rates of 8.6% in the previous year and 7.6% in the year leading up to March 2025.

Additionally, the data reveals that unemployment rates among specific demographics, such as young women aged 20 to 24, are notably higher, reaching 34.9% (source-5). However, this does not translate to a general unemployment rate of 60% for the working-age population.

Analysis

The claim of 60% unemployment appears to be a gross exaggeration when compared to the available data. The sources cited provide a clear picture of the unemployment landscape in Iran, indicating that the overall unemployment rate is significantly lower than the claim suggests.

The Iran Data Portal defines the unemployment rate as the ratio of unemployed individuals to the economically active population, which includes both employed and unemployed individuals actively seeking work. The reported figures of around 7.8% to 8.6% are consistent across various reputable sources, including the Statistical Center of Iran and Press TV.

Critics of the Iranian government's reporting methods argue that the actual unemployment rate may be higher due to flaws in data collection, such as how employment is defined (including those working very few hours as employed) (source-2). However, even taking these criticisms into account, the reported figures do not approach the 60% mark.

The reliability of the sources is generally high, with the Iran Data Portal being a reputable academic resource, while the Statistical Center of Iran is the official governmental body responsible for labor statistics. However, the potential for bias exists in reports from regime-affiliated sources, which may underreport unemployment figures to present a more favorable economic outlook.

Conclusion

The claim that "six in ten working-age people in Iran are unemployed" is False. The actual unemployment rate is reported to be around 7.8%, significantly lower than the claim. While there are valid concerns regarding the accuracy of reported figures due to methodological flaws, the evidence does not support the assertion of such a high unemployment rate.